Box



prril 30, 1957 l, CONTANT 2,790,587

Box

Filed Oct. 18, 1954 ,0. lb-LJ- /ll//l/l/ United States Patent() BOX Ira Contant, Haworth, N. J., assignor to Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,735

Claims. (Cl. 229-11) This invention relates to a box having attached thereto a removable label and product information strip.

In containers for dispensing small-sized merchandise such as food, confections, medicines, service items, and the like, it is frequently desirable to include directions for use or product information of a technical or de scriptive nature. Particularly in the case of medicines such as tablets or capsules, it is customary to present to the physician or pharmacist technical information which is removed at the time the material is dispensed to the patient. The present invention is particularly adapted to boxes for dispensing drug tablets or capsules and, more particularly, to assemble boxes of drugs detailed to physicians.

According to this invention, a box comprising a tray and a four-sided sleeve adapted to slide over and cover the tray has attached to one end of the tray an elongated strip of flexible material such as paper at least several times the length of the box. One portion of the strip bears data identifying the contents of the box and constitutes an exterior label while the remainder of the strip bears promotional or technical information. The major, descriptive portion of the strip bearing the product information is folded within the tray. The short, label portion of the strip bearing the identification extends from the tray, passes over and lies on the exterior of the sleeve. The label is then secured at the opposite end of the box in a non-permanent fashion by fastening means described hereinafter. The portion of the strip extending over the sleeve functions as a removable label identifying the contents of the box. By extending a portion of the label beyond the fastening means, a pull tab is provided by which the label is removed from the exterior of the box and the interiorly enclosed portion of the strip as well as the tray are withdrawn from the sleeve in a single operation. transversely perforated at one or more points across the short dimension so that the label and technical information may be readily torn off. Preferably the perforations are located so as to leave a small cover strip still attached to the tray when the major portion of the strip has been torn olf. The cover strip remaining attached to the tray may be left blank or may bear iden# tication data or instructions for use of the contents, if desired. The cover sleeve may contain printed lines upon which, for example, a physician may write instructions for his patient after the label is torn off. By this invention, a box is provided which bears in a continuous strip integral with the enclosed tray a label containing identifying data as well as product information, the strip being removable simply by pulling the tab end and tearing across the perforations.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the complete box in assembled form;

Figure 2 shows the tray with the elongated strip extended;

Figure 3 shows one modification of the cover sleeve;

The strip may be ICC Figure 4 shows a second modification of the cover sleeve.

Referring to Figure l, which shows the assembled box in closed position, the open ended sleeve 1 covers tray 2 containing drug tablets 7. Strip 3, preferably constructed of paper, but which may be of plastic or other llexible material, is attached at point 4 within tray 2. The point of attachment of the strip 3 to tray 2 is shown in Figure l Within the tray but the strip may also be attached to the exterior side of the end wall of the tray and fold over into the interior. The strip is folded several times in fan-like or accordion fashion Within the tray. The terminal portion of the strip 3, i. e. panel 10, more clearly shown in Figure 2, is somewhat longer than the sleeve. This terminal portion of the strip 3 extends outward from end A of the tray passing between the side of the tray and the end of the sleeve. This portion of the strip, which constitutes the label and bears printed identification of the contents of the box, passes over the exterior, long dimension of the sleeve to end B and then passes under retaining means 6. Pull tab 5, the terminal portion of strip 3, extends outside retaining means 6. Upon pulling tab 5, retaining means 6 is removed and the strip is drawn free. The label is then lifted from the outside surface of the sleeve. By continuing to pull on the tab the descriptive portion of the strip is withdrawn from the interior of the tray sliding between the edges of tray and sleeve at end A of the box. Finally, the tray is also withdrawn from the covering sleeve. The removal of the label and withdrawal of the tray is effected in one continuous operation. When strip 3 has been wholly removed from the sleeve and tray and extended, all material printed thereon is exposed. One or both sides of strip 3 may contain the printed data.

Strip 3 is shown in Figure 2 in extended form. The strip is permanently attached to one end of tray 2 by an adhesive or the like and may be as long as necessary to contain the desired product information. The length of the strip is preferably some multiple of the length of the tray plus an additional length to provide for engagement under retaining means 6 and for the pull tab S. The strip is folded alternately forward and backward, in fan-like or accordion fashion, as many times as required. Transverse perforations may be provided at any point along the length of the strip for tearing off the label and product information. Preferably the perforations are located across one of the folds as shown at 8 in Figure 2, but additional transverse perforations may be provided if desired. Panel 9 of the strip may be left blank to function merely as an interior cover or may contain a printed legend such as a trademark, other identification, or instructions for use of the contents. Panel 10 is the exterior label portion and bears appropriate identification of the contents.

Two alternate forms of retaining or fastening means are depicted in Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 3, the retaining means 11 is a ap integral with the sleeve, extending across one open end of sleeve 1 and engaging frictionally within the sleeve. Alternatively, a separate plug 12, shown in Figure 4, may be inserted into the open end of the sleeve over the strip 3. Sleeve 1 is suiciently longer than the tray in this instance to accommodate plug 12. The plug 12 is dimensioned so as to be held by frictional fit within the end of the sleeve. Additional alternative methods (not shown on the drawing) of fastening the free end of the strip are also within the scope of the invention. For example, the strip may be fastened by a spot of adhesive to the end of the tray or to the bottom of the sleeve. In the latter case, perforations may be provided near the point of adhesion in order to easily free the tab. Also, a fold of the pull tab may be tucked between tray and sleeve to retain the free end of the strip.

Preferably, a tray stop 13 is provided in sleeve 1, as shown in` Figure 3, to prevent the trayv 2l from being Withdrawn entirely from the sleeve. Stop 13 is formed by cuttingy a U-shaped slit` in thetop ofV the sleeve and depressing the tab so formed or by other equivalent means. According to this modification, the stop 13 is provided at end A of'the sleeve, the end remote from the fastening means, and the strip 3 is attachedV to the corresponding end of tray 2.

The exterior of the sleeve, shown in Figures 3 and 4 with the covering label removed, may be left blank as in Figure 3 or may beprovided with spaces for written instructions as in Figure 4.

I claim:

1. A merchandise dispensing container comprising in combination a tray having four sides and a base and a four-sided cover sleeve for said tray, said tray being freely and slidably removable from either end of the cover sleeve, an elongated continuous strip comprising a product information portion and a label portion, said strip being permanently attached by one of the short dimensioned ends to one end of the tray and comprising a tray withdrawal means, said product information portion being folded fan-like within the tray, said label portion being Vlonger than the long dimension of the sleeve and extending from the tray then passing exteriorly to completely cover the top of said sleeve and secured by fastening means within the open end of the sleeve at the opposite end of the container, the entire length of said strip being withdrawn together with the attached tray when pull is exerted on the secured end of the strip.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the fastening means is an end flap integral'with the sleeve, said llap securing the strip beneath it by extending across the open end of the sleeve and engaging the opposite side of the sleeve.

3. A container according to claim 1 wherein the fastening means is a separate plug which is inserted in one end of the sleeve over the free end of the strip and which is held within that end of the sleeve by tight t against the four walls of the sleeve.

4. A container according to claim 1 wherein a tray stop extends interiorly into said tray from the sleeve.

5. A container according` to claim l wherein the elongated strp attached to the tray is transversely perforated across at least one fold located within the tray.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

